What Is The Secret?

So what is all the hub-bub about this movie/book about The Secret? Does it tell people that God is dead? Does it tell people that they have to shun their religious beliefs for a new one in order to create successes in their lives? Is it anti-religious?

The Secret was created by a woman, Rhonda Byrne, who was struggling in her life. Her daughter gave her a book, which lead her on her own spiritual journey to find more information about the successful spiritual and secular leaders throughout history. Once she started to uncover the similarities between them, she came to understand what they all had in common, their secret. No, she does not try to tell people that God is dead. No, she does not tell people they have to shun their own religious beliefs. No, it is not anti-religious.

It is all about the power of positive thinking! Okay, so how many of you just rolled your eyes into the back of your head, because you've heard the "positive thinking" thing about a million times? I know, you think that it just won't work for you because of your unusual circumstances! Well, to that I would say, "You're right!"

Then, I would tell you to read the quote that I have as a subtitle to my blog page. It's a quote from Henry Ford that says, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." It is a quote that is also used in The Secret. I LOVE that quote! It reminds me that I can choose to think about the good, positive things and people who are a part of my life (and a part of my future), otherwise known as my blessings, OR I can choose to dwell on the negative things, illnesses, people, wrongs that have happened, or could potentially happen.

What The Secret has taught me, which is different from other "positive thinking" stuff I have learned about in the past, is that if I'm given a choice to say, "I can" and attract the things I really want, verses saying, "I can't" and attracting the things I don't want, why not say, "I CAN!"?

For example, instead of thinking about the things you don't want to happen, start thinking about the things you want to happen. An example they use in The Secret is, if you need to be somewhere on time, and you think, "I don't want to be late", then you will probably be late. You are focusing on being late, instead of focusing on being on-time. For this exanple, you might want to say, "I'm on time."

The Secretis a lot more than what I can fully explain on this blog. personally, I have the set of The SecretCD's in my car, and I listen to it whenever I drive somewhere. It's especially great listening on long trips! It seems I always learn something else, or remember something I listened to on another occasion, but didn't actually hear.

Spirituality Versus Religion

What does it mean to be "spiritual" versus being "religious"?

To me, being religious means that you follow a leader who has probably had specific training to be in the position of leadership. It is important that a follower believes the leader will teach them how to better people in this life, in order to make it to an even better life after they die. I know that as someone reads my definition, that there will be all kinds of other specifics, and those depend on which religion you affiliate yourself with, or have knowledge of. But in the broad sense, that is my definition, and I mean only to define it, and not pass judgement on any religion.

Being spiritual on the other hand, means a person has a personal relationship, apart from teachings or someone in a leadership position, with a higher power. The higher power could be known as God, Jesus, Jehovah, Buddha, etc.

Most people, especially my grandmothers, were both; spiritual and religious. I have such a great love and admiration of them both, but for me, following a person (or any leader for that matter) without question is very uncomfortable. I know there are other levels of following, and it doesn't mean that good, quality, religious leadership isn't out there.

For me, I don't consider myself to be religious, but I do consider myself to be spiritual. I don't knock any religion, or religious person; it's just not for me. I enjoy learning about different religious and spiritual beliefs, and the more I learn on my own, the stronger I am in my relationship with God.